Madagascar Military Seizes Power After President Rajoelina Ousted in Coup
The Madagascar military announced on Tuesday that it has taken control of the government following the ousting of President Andry Rajoelina, confirming what appears to be another coup in the Indian Ocean nation.
Colonel Michael Randrianirina, a member of an elite military unit, declared the takeover during a televised address outside the ceremonial presidential palace in Antananarivo, shortly after lawmakers voted to impeach Rajoelina, who has since fled the country.
“We are taking power,” Randrianirina said, adding that the armed forces and gendarmerie would form a joint council to oversee the country’s transition. He stated that a prime minister would be appointed soon to form a civilian government, while the constitution and the High Constitutional Court’s powers have been suspended. A national referendum is expected to take place within two years.
The coup followed weeks of mass anti-government protests led by young demonstrators angry over worsening poverty, power and water shortages, and alleged corruption. The demonstrations, inspired by other Gen Z-led movements in Nepal and Sri Lanka, escalated on Saturday when Randrianirina’s elite CAPSAT unit joined protesters and turned against Rajoelina.
Rajoelina, 51, had attempted to dissolve the lower house of parliament earlier on Tuesday to avoid impeachment, but lawmakers ignored his decree and voted overwhelmingly to remove him. In a social media address on Monday night, the embattled leader said he had fled to a “safe place” amid fears for his life following the military rebellion. His current whereabouts remain unknown.
Madagascar, a former French colony, has a long history of military takeovers — including in 2009, when Rajoelina himself first seized power with military backing. CAPSAT, the same elite unit involved in that coup, has now again positioned itself at the center of political control, claiming command of all armed forces and appointing new heads of the military and gendarmerie.
Despite the military takeover, no major violence has been reported, and soldiers have been seen celebrating with civilians in the streets of Antananarivo.
Protester Soavololona Faraniaina, speaking during Tuesday’s rallies, said the frustrations fueling the movement stem from long-standing hardships. “We do not get constant electricity or water from the government,” she said. “If Madagascan children are studying in darkness, where will the future of this nation be?”
According to the World Bank, poverty affects about 75 percent of Madagascar’s 31 million people, underscoring the deep economic challenges confronting the country as it faces yet another period of political uncertainty.
